WORLD HEART DAY: Yorkshire charity's powerful health message

Chris Page

Heart Research UK is calling on South Yorkshire folk to use World Heart Day to “Power Your Heart” by tackling one of its fitness challenges or plan your own.

September 29 sees timely nudge toward personal challenges to help people to get fit while raising cash toward prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

Heart risk at a glance

Heart-healthy targets include swimming English Channel length in your local pool, taking part in your own triathlon in your own time and at your own pace, and organising your own “my run, my way” event.

Gentler suggestion for young and old alike is making money with healthy bake-off at work or with family and friends.

By backing World Heart Federation’s World Heart Day the charity aims to raise cardiovascular disease awareness.

The Yorkshire-based cause's theme today and throughout the year is to make all of us aware what we can do to fuel hearts and power lives.

World Heart Day

Simple steps such as eating more healthily and, ignoring Oasis mantra, quitting or cutting down on cigarettes and alcohol.

Heart Research UK head of fundraising income Fran Shilton said today is "great opportunity for people to take stock of their heart health and make positive lifestyle changes".

She continued: "It’s very easy for us all to slip into bad habits and neglect our fitness, particularly when we might be busy at work or home.

"Our challenges are designed to help people become more active, but at their own pace and in their own time, as well as raising funds to help us continue our important work.”

"All these things make you not only healthier, but also feel good and able to enjoy your life to the fullest.

"World Heart Day is a vital global platform that we, as well as our members and supporters, can use to raise awareness and encourage individuals, families, communities and governments to take action now.

“Together we have the power to reduce the burden of, and premature deaths from, cardiovascular disease helping people everywhere to live longer, better, heart-healthy lives,” she added.

17.3 million people across the world die of cardiovascular disease each year
The figure is predicted to rise to 23 million by 2030
£15 billion is the economic burden of cardiovascular disease in the UK
Diabetes, a big risk factor for heart disease, has increased by more than half across Europe in the past 10 years
Many of the risks associated with cardiovascular disease are preventable through changing behaviour
Heart disease and stroke cause a third of all deaths in women worldwide